Apparatus for rock handling, rock drilling unit and method

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for handling drilling rods, a rock drilling unit and a method of handling drilling rods is provided. The apparatus includes a rod feeder and a swing device, which cooperate and move drilling rods between a pick-up position and a drilling center defined by a rock drilling machine of the drilling unit. The rod feeder and the swing device are separate devices, which are independently controllable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for handling rods in rock drillingand especially in core drilling. The invention further relates to a rockdrilling unit and a method of handling rock drilling rods.

The field of the invention is defined more specifically in the preamblesof the independent claims.

Core drilling is executed for investigating rock ground at a distance inorder to determine conditions for extracting minerals. Thus, coredrilling is used for exploration drilling purposes and constructionwork. During core drilling, aiming to extract a drill core, it is oftendrilled to very great depths and distances. As an example, it is commonto drill holes over thousands of meters. During rock drilling of suchlong drill holes, it is necessary to join a plurality of drillingcomponents such as drilling rods for forming a drill string. A drillbit, which is located at a distal end of the drill string, needs to bechanged regularly, several times for every hole, typically after every30-50 meters, which means that the entire drill string needs to bedisassembled and assembled 15-20 times for each drill hole.Traditionally handling of the drilling components is done manually.Nowadays the core drilling devices are more and more provided with rodhandling apparatuses for moving drilling rods and other drillingcomponents between a pick-up position and a drilling center of the rockdrilling machine. However, the known handling devices have shown tocontain some disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatusfor rod handling. The invention further relates to a novel and improvedrock drilling unit and method of handling rods.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterized by thecharacterizing features of first independent apparatus claim.

The rock drilling unit according to the invention is characterized bythe characterizing features of second independent apparatus claim.

The method according to the invention is characterized by thecharactering features and steps of independent method claim.

An idea of the disclosed solution is that the rock drilling unit, whichis intended especially for exploration drilling, may be provided with anapparatus for handling drilling rods and other elongated drillingcomponents. The apparatus comprises a rod feeder for moving the drillingrods between a pick-up position and an intermediate position, and aswing device for moving the drilling rods between the intermediateposition and a drilling center. The mentioned rod feeder and swingdevice are separate units so that they can be moved independentlyrelative to each other. In other words, the rod feeder and the swingdevice are not integrated into one physical entity, but instead, theyare separately operable devices.

An advantage of the disclosed solution is that handling of the drillingrods may be quickened when the swing device and the rod feeder may bedriven independently and may thereby execute handling taskssimultaneously. This way the drill string may be assembled anddisassembled quicker than by using the known apparatuses.

In this patent application the used terms drilling component anddrilling rod include elongated drilling tools such as drilling tubes andsolid rod type elements. The terms further include water swivel rods,inner tubes and retrieval elements, such as wire line retrieval tools,which are implemented in core and sample drilling.

According to an embodiment, the swing device and the rod feeder comprisededicated frames and dedicated actuators for executing their independentmovements. Thanks to this, the swing device and the rod feeder may bemounted relatively freely relative to each other, which has positiveimpact on the layout of the drilling unit. A further advantage of theembodiment is that construction and operation of the dedicated devicesmay be designed according to their special needs.

According to an embodiment, movement of the rod feeder has no influenceto the swing device and correspondingly movement of the swing device hasno influence to the rod feeder. Thus, the rod feeder and the swingdevice are separate units which can be moved independently.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder and the swing device areseparate units without direct physical connection between them.

According to an embodiment, direction of movements of the rod feeder andthe swing device are transversal relative to each other.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder is configured to execute onlyturning movements. Thus, the rod feeder reciprocates only in one singlemovement direction.

According to an embodiment, the drilling unit has a vertical first planeand the rod feeder has a vertical second plane. The second verticalplane of the rod feeder is configured to be constantly parallel relativeto the first vertical plane during movement of the rod feeder.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder is configured to be turnedrelative to at least one first turning axis and the swing device isconfigured to be turned relative to at least one second turning axis.The first turning axis and the second turning axis are perpendicularrelative to each other.

According to an embodiment, the swing device has a fixed mounting andthe only movement of the swing device is transversal turning movementrelative to the drilling center.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder comprises at least two armsconnected to each other by means of at least one connecting joint axis,which connecting joint is perpendicular to the drilling axis. A firstarm is connected to a base structure of the drilling unit by means of arotational joint axis, which is transversal to the drilling axis. At adistal end of a second arm is a gripping device or gripper, which may beturned relative to the second arm around a rotational joint axis, whichis transversal to the drilling axis. Thus, the basic mechanism of therod feeder may comprise two arms and three rotational joints, as well asactuators to carry out the movements.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder comprises at least oneextendable arm for adjusting operative length of the device. In otherwords the rod feeder may comprise one linear joint enabling a so calledzoom feature.

According to an embodiment, location of the pick-up position isadjustable by adjusting movement control of the rod feeder. Mechanism ofthe rod feeder allows its gripping device to be driven in a versatilemanner into desired position and height which is beneficial foreffective and ergonomic handling.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus is controlled by means of atleast one control unit and the location of the pick-up position isprogrammable. The rod feeder may have a large reach area inside whichone or more pick-up positions may be determined at desired locations. Anadvantage of this embodiment is that the position of the pick-upposition may be selected by taking into account available free spacearound the drilling unit, location of a rod storage and desires of anoperator. Height from the ground may also be determined and stored.

According to an embodiment, orientation of the drilling component at thepick-up position is adjustable by adjusting movement control of the rodfeeder whereby it is easy to take into account personal desires andergonomic issues of different operators.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises one or more controlunits. Then, orientation of the drilling component at the pick-upposition is controlled by means of the control unit. Thus, the desiredorientation and exact position may be easily re-programmed.Alternatively, the desired positions and orientations of the pick-uppositions may be taught and stored in a memory device. Updating of suchprogrammed and taught pick-up positions is easy.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one controlunit which is configured to determine position and orientation of theintermediate position and the pick-up position. In other words, theintermediate position and the pick-up position are both imaginarypositions which are not limited by means of any mechanical limitingelements. This way, the position and orientation are freely selectable.The control unit is configured to control the rod feeder to move betweenthe defined intermediate position and pick-up position.

According to an embodiment, the rock drilling unit comprises one or moresensors, scanners or corresponding measuring devices for sensing pose ofthe rock drilling unit. The sensing data is transmitted to at least onecontrol unit, which is configured to determine position and orientationof the current position and is configured to determine position andorientation of the intermediate position on the basis of the detectedposition and orientation in order to carry out transport of the rodsbetween the intermediate position and the drilling axis.

According to an embodiment, one drill rod may be hold at theintermediate position by means of the rod feeder while the swing deviceis handling another drill rod. This way the swing device may be operablewith a rod while a gripping device of the rod feeder is occupied byanother rod. Thus, the rod feeder may provide the apparatus with anintermediate storage.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder is configured to receive andsupply the drilling rod at the pick-up position in horizontal orsubstantially horizontal orientation. This embodiment may be implementedfor example when the drilling rods are stored on horizontal racks orsupports.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder is configured to receive andsupply the drilling rod at the pick-up position in vertical orsubstantially vertical orientation. In narrow mine spaces it may beeasier to store and handle the drilling components which are orientatedvertically. The drilling components may also be stored in verticaldirection inside a rod storage.

According to an embodiment, between the intermediate position and thepick-up position is a horizontal distance when viewed in the directionof the drilling center, whereby the pick-up position is locatedhorizontally at rearward end portion of the drilling unit.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder and the swing device are bothprovided with at least one dedicated gripper for gripping the rods.

According to an embodiment, each of the dedicated grippers of the rodfeeder and the swing device comprise at least two jaws, which arelocated at a distance from each other when seen in longitudinaldirection of the drilling component being handled.

According to an embodiment, the swing device may comprise grippers whichare based on roller-like gripping elements. These elements may be analternative solution to jaw-like grippers. The roller-like grippingelements may be not only moved relative to each other but also berotated so that they may also be enabled in threading of the drillingcomponents. In that case, the roller-like gripping elements may serve asan integrated threading unit whereby no separate threading unitelsewhere in the drilling unit is needed. An advantage of such acombination swing device is that the apparatus has fewer devices, may besmaller in size and also lighter in weight.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder may be configured to serve asan intermediate rod storage at the intermediate position. Then one rodmay be stored on the dedicated grippers of the rod feeder. This way, therod feeder may bring the next drilling component to the intermediate rodstorage, wherein it may wait for the swing device to become vacant.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder is mountable on eitherlongitudinal side of the rock drilling unit. An advantage of thisembodiment is that the same construction may be used for right- andleft-hand implementations, whereby need for two different rod feederswith different handedness is not needed. In other words, the rod feedermay have a symmetrical structure, whereby it may be a more universal andversatile device. The same applies also for the swing device, which mayhave a symmetrical structure so that it may be mounted on either sidesof the feed beam.

According to an embodiment, the swing device is supported to thedrilling unit and the rod feeder is supported directly to the basestructure. The apparatus may comprise one common base structure, oralternatively, dedicated base structures for drilling unit and the rodfeeder. The base structure may be designed to be supported against theground and may comprise a frame structure made of steel bars or tubes,for example.

According to an embodiment, the swing device is mounted to a slideelement so that it may be moved in longitudinal direction of the feedbeam. The mentioned slide element may be supported directly to the feedbeam or to an additional fastening beam mounted to the feed beam andbeing parallel to the feed beam. The longitudinal movement of the slideelement and the swing device may be synchronized to longitudinalmovements of the threading unit.

According to an embodiment, the swing device is mounted longitudinallyimmovably to the feed beam of the drilling unit or to an additionalfastening beam mounted to the feed beam and being parallel to the feedbeam. This way the mounting may be firm and the structure of themounting may be simple.

According to an embodiment, directions of movement paths of the rodfeeder and the swing device are transverse relative to each other. Therod feeder is arranged to be moved predominantly in front-rear directionwhereas the swing device is arranged to move predominantly in transversedirection. Thus, the basic movements of the devices are easy to handleand no complicated joints and movement control are needed. The simplemovements may be fast, which has positive impact on effectivity.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder and the swing device haveboth only one dedicated function and they are separately controllableunits. Thus, the rod feeder and the swing device may be devices whichare designed for special purposes without any need for compromises. Thisway their effectivity and durability, for example, may be improved.

According to an embodiment, the rock drilling unit comprises at leastone control unit. The control unit is configured to control the rodhandling apparatus to move according to its work cycle simultaneouslyand independently relative to the operation of the threading unit. Thisway the threading unit and the rod handling apparatus may be drivensimultaneously, which increases the performance of the handling of thedrilling components. The control unit may comprise a processor which isconfigured to execute a software designed to control the operation ofthe apparatus. The control device may be located in connection to theapparatus or it may be located externally of the apparatus.

According to an embodiment, the rod feeder is an independently movabledevice, which is movable simultaneously with the swing device. Theability for simultaneous movements of these two devices has asignificant impact on improved efficiency for the rod handlingprocedure. In other words, multitasking of the co-operating rod feederand the swing device quickens loading and removing drilling componentsto and from the drill string.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a control unit whichis configured to control the rod handling device, the threading deviceand the alignment device to perform multiple operational functions atthe same time.

According to an embodiment, the threading unit is located at anextension of the feed beam. An advantage of this embodiment is that atthe rear end of the feed beam may be an extension part, which offersproper support for the threading unit. A further advantage is that atthe rear of the feed beam there is sufficiently free space for arrangingthe threading unit and it does not cause any visibility problem to anoperator.

According to an embodiment, the threading unit is integrated in theswing device. Means for executing threading may be combined withgripping means of the swing device or they may be arranged separately inconnection to the swing device.

According to an embodiment, the rod handling apparatus is configured toco-operate with at least one rod manipulator for feeding drilling rodsautomatically from a rod storage to the pick-up position andcorrespondingly for removing the rods from the pick-up positionautomatically to the rod storage. The rod manipulator may comprise anarticulated arm system or it may be an industrial robot. Alternatively,or in addition to, the rod manipulator may comprise one or moretransport tracks for moving the drilling rods and components. The rodstorage may be a separate mobile unit, which may be positioned at adrilling site, or alternatively, the storage may be a separate unitbeing integrated to be part of the rock drilling unit. The rod storagemay be dimensioned to receive dozens of drilling components, andtypically up to 100-200 components, sometimes even more than 350components.

According to an embodiment, the rock drilling machine of the drillingunit is a rotation device or a rotation head. Thus, the rod handlingapparatus is implemented in rotational drilling.

Let it be mentioned, that regarding the steps of handling the elongateddrilling components, such as drilling rods, it is assumed in this patentapplication that one or several drilling rods have already been drilledinto the rock and the last rod, which is partly drilled into the rock,is penetrating through the rock drilling machine so that a rearward endof the partly drilled rod is exposed. The solution disclosed in thispatent application is for adding or removing drilling rods to a drillrod string comprising several drilling rods.

The above disclosed embodiments may be combined in order to formsuitable solutions having those of the above features that are needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Some embodiments are described in more detail in the accompanyingdrawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a rock drilling unit provided with anapparatus for handling elongated drilling tools,

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a rod feeder arranged to turn aroundturning axis and configured to transfer drilling components from ahorizontal pick-up position to an intermediate position adjacent to afeed beam of a rock drilling unit,

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a rod feeder provided with a verticalpick-up position which is located at rear side area of the drillingunit,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a rod feeder provided with a verticalpick-up position which is located at front side area of the drillingunit,

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a rod feeder configuration of which is anarticulated boom comprising several arms and joints,

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a swing device configured to move drillingcomponents between an intermediate position of a rod feeder to adrilling center of a rock drilling machine,

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a rock drilling unit provided with anapparatus for handling drilling components;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic views of a rock drilling unit provided withan apparatus for handling drilling components; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing transfer steps of drilling rodsand means for executing the movements.

For the sake of clarity, the figures show some embodiments of thedisclosed solution in a simplified manner. In the figures, likereference numerals identify like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows in a highly simplified manner principle of a rock drillingunit 1 provided with an apparatus 36 for handling elongated drillingrods 2 or corresponding drilling components. The drilling unit 1 issupported on a base structure 3 by means of turning joints 4 a and 4 bso that position and orientation of the drilling unit 1 can be changed.The drilling unit 1 may comprise a feed beam 5, a feed device 6, a rockdrilling machine 7, an alignment device 8 and a threading unit 9. Therock drilling machine 7 may be a rotating device 7 a, which isconfigured to rotate drilling rods 2 and tools at a drilling center 10.The rock drilling machine 7 is supported on a feed beam 5 and is movedby means of the feed device 6. The alignment device 8 is located at arear end portion of the rock drilling machine 7 and is configured toalign new rods to be in with the drilling centre 10. The alignmentdevice 8 may comprise transversally movable roller elements, forexample. The threading device 9 may be located at a rear end portion ofthe feed beam 5 and is configured to rotate the rod in order to open andclose screw joints between successive rods.

In connection with the drilling unit 1 is a swing device 11, which maybe supported directly to the feed beam 5, or alternatively to afastening beam 12, which is parallel to the feed beam 5. On both sidesof the drilling unit 1 may be such fastening beams, whereby the swingdevice 12 may be mounted on either left or right side of the drillingunit 1.

A rod feeder 13 may also be supported to the base structure 3. The rodfeeder 13 is configured to move the rods between a pick-up position 14and an intermediate position 15. In FIG. 1 gripping means of the rodfeeder 13 are positioned to the intermediate position 15. The pick-upposition 14 is located at rear area of the rod feeder and at lowervertical height. The rod feeder 13 comprises at least one arm 16, whichis connected to the base structure 3 by means of a turning joint 17 afor turning the arm 16 relative to the base structure 3. At a distal endportion of the arm 16 may be a turning joint 17 b for turning a grippingdevice of the rod feeder 13 relative to the arm 16. Turning axis of thejoints 4 a, 4 b, 17 a and 17 b may be transversal to the direction ofthe drilling center 10.

The rods 2 may be stored to a rod storage 18. The rods 2 may be movedfrom the rod storage 18 to the pick-up position 14 manually by anoperator 19 or there may be an industrial robot, a manipulator or anyother device or mechanism for executing the transfer.

The rod feeder 13 is configured to move the rod 2 from the pick-upposition 14 to the intermediate position 15 wherefrom the rod is pickedby the swing device 11. The swing device 11 comprises turning joints 20a, 20 b allowing the swing device 11 to be turned in transversedirection relative to the drilling axis 10. The swing device 11 may movethe rod 2 from the intermediate position 15 to the drilling axis 10where it may be aligned and become connected to the previous rod. As canbe noted, the drilling unit 1 provided with the swing device 11 and therod feeder 13 are physically separate devices. Moreover, the rod feeder13 and the swing device 11 may be controlled separately. The control ofthe devices 1, 11 and 13 may be done under control of a control unit CU.When the swing device 11 has gripped the rod 2 and begins to move itaway from the intermediate position 15, the rod feeder 13 may instantlyinitiate new handling process for a next rod.

FIG. 2 discloses movements of a rod feeder 13. The rod feeder 13comprises an arm 16, which may be extendable and may be connected to abase structure 3 by means of a turning joint 17 a so that the rod feeder13 may be turned on a vertical plane, which is parallel to a drillingcentre 10 of a rock drilling unit 1. Thus, the rod feeder 13 may bemoved back and forth and may be without any sideward movements. At adistal end of the arm 16 is a gripping device 21, which may comprise anelongated frame 22 and two or more gripping elements 23, such asgripping jaws or rollers, for gripping a rod 2 at a longitudinaldistance from each other. The gripping device 21 may be turned around aturning joint 17 b so that orientation of the gripping device 21 may beadjusted. Thereby, the rod feeder 13 may be positioned to anintermediate position 15 which is defined by the position andorientation of the drilling unit 1. And further, the rod feeder 13 maybe positioned to a pick-up position 14 which may be located at rear ofthe drilling unit 1 and may have horizontal orientation and desiredvertical height so that it is easy for an operator 19 to feed and removerods. So, FIG. 2 discloses both the intermediate position 15 and thepick-up position 14.

In FIG. 3 the rod feeder 13 may be substantially the same as in FIG. 2but now the pick-up position 14 has a vertical orientation at the reararea of the drilling unit. Further, in FIG. 4 the pick-up position 14also has a vertical orientation but is located at a frontal area of thedrilling unit. As can be noted, the position and orientation of thepick-up position 14 may be adjusted according to personal demands of theoperator and according to available free space around the drillingdevice. Safe areas for manual handling of the rods to and from thepick-up position 14 may be locate at front or rear areas relative to thedrilling unit 1. The pick-up position 14 is reachable from vertical onrear side to vertical on front side. In FIGS. 2-4 drilling direction isindicated by a reference A.

FIG. 5 discloses a rod feeder 13 comprising two arm parts 16 a, 16 bconnected to each other by means of a joint 17 c. The arm 16 may beconnected to a base structure by means of a turning support 24 so thatthe rod feeder 13 may also be turned laterally, whereby theconfiguration of the rod feeder 13 may resemble a robotic arm system oran industrial robot. Alternatively, the arm 16 may be arranged to bemoved in one vertical plane in a similar manner as the embodiments shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, and may thereby have simpler configuration andcontrol. Further, one or more arm parts 16 a, 16 b may comprise a zoomsystem for adjusting their lengths. In order to improve clarity turningactuators are not shown in FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 6 is a highly simplified presentation of a swing device 11. As itis mentioned above, the swing device 11 is configured to move thedrilling rods 2 or other elongated drilling components between theintermediate position 15 of the gripping device 21 of the rod feeder andthe drilling center 10 of the rock drilling machine 7. The swing device11 may be mounted on the fastening beam 12 which is located on a side ofthe feed beam 5. The rock drilling machine 7 is mounted on a carriage25, which is movable in longitudinal direction of the feed beam 5. Theswing device 11 may comprise two arms 26 and 27 connected to each otherby means of a turning joint 28 and connected to the fastening beam 12 bymeans of a turning joint 29. At a distal end of the arm system is agripping device 30 or gripper, by means of which the swing device 11 maygrip the rods 2. For clarity reasons the gripping device is shown in asimplified manner. As can be noted, the swing device 11 is movedtogether with the feed beam 5 whereas the gripping device 21 of the rodfeeder is not physically linked to the feed beam 5. Therefore,positioning measures are required to place the gripping system of therod feeder 13 at a reach of the swing device 11 and to be parallel withthe drilling centre 10 or line.

FIG. 7 discloses a rock drilling unit 1, which is provided with a swingdevice 11 and rod feeder 13 for moving rods 2 between a pick-up position14 and a drilling center 10. Basic features of these devices havealready been disclosed above. However, FIG. 7 further discloses anactuator 31, such as a cylinder, for moving the feed beam 5, and anactuator 32, such as a cylinder, for moving the rod feeder 13 relativeto the common base structure 3. The actuator 32 is shown in a simplifiedmanner. At an extension of the rear end of the feed beam 5 is locatedmovably the threading unit 9. The threading unit 9 may slide along asupport beam portion 33 when being moved by means of an actuator 34,such as a cylinder. FIG. 7 further shows that the alignment device 8 maybe located at a rear end side of the rotating device 7 a. The alignmentdevice 8 and the rotating device 7 a may both be supported on thecarriage 25, which is moved by means of the feed device 6, such as acylinder. At a front end of the feed beam 5 a front guide 35 forsupporting the rod 2 may be arranged.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the above disclosed apparatus in more detail and intwo different view angles.

FIG. 10 illustrates transfer steps of drilling rods and components. Therods 2 are moved from a storage or storage position 36 to the pick-upposition 14 either by the operator 19, manipulator or robot. The rods 2may be moved from the pick-up position 14 to the intermediate position15 by means of the rod feeder 13, and further be moved to the drillingcentre 10 by means of the swing device 11. On the drilling centre 10 therods 2 may be moved by means of the threading unit 9 and the feed device6. When the drill string is disassembled then the rods 2 are moved in anopposite direction, of course. Operation of the disclosed devices may becontrolled by means of the control unit CU, which may comprise aprocessor, a software program and a memory device. Control parameters,programs and commands may be fed by means of an input device, andfurther, sensing data of sensors may be transmitted to the control unit.The control unit may generate control commands for actuators moving thedisclosed devices independently for executing the needed handlingprocesses.

The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustratethe idea of the invention. In its details, the invention may vary withinthe scope of the claims.

1. An apparatus (36) for rod handling, which is mountable in connectionto a rock drilling unit (1) and wherein the apparatus (36) is configuredto move rock drilling rods (2) between at least one pick-up position(14) and a drilling center (10) of the rock drilling unit (1); theapparatus (36) comprising: a rod feeder (13) for moving the drillingrods (2) between the pick-up position (14) and an intermediate position(15), a swing device (11) is configured to move the drilling rods (2)between the intermediate position (15) of the gripping device (21) ofthe rod feeder (13) and the drilling center (10); and at least onegripper for gripping the rods (2); characterized in that the rod feeder(13) and the swing device (11) are separate units, which are movableindependently relative to each other, and wherein the swing device (11)has a fixed mounting and the only movement of the swing device (11) istransversal turning movement relative to the drilling center (10). 2.The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that direction ofmovements of the rod feeder (13) and the swing device (11) aretransversal relative to each other.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in anyone of the previous claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the rod feeder(13) comprises at least two arms (16 a, 16 b) connected to each other bymeans of at least one connecting joint (17 c) axis of which connectingjoint is perpendicular to the drilling axis (10).
 4. The apparatus asclaimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatlocation of the pick-up position (14) is adjustable by adjustingmovement control of the rod feeder (13).
 5. The apparatus as claimed inany one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rod feeder(13) and the swing device (11) are both provided with at least onededicated gripper (21, 30) for gripping the rods (2).
 6. The apparatusas claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that theapparatus (36) is mountable on either longitudinal side of the rockdrilling unit (1).
 7. A rock drilling unit (1), comprising: a feed beam(5); a rock drilling machine (7) supported on the feed beam (5) andcomprising at least a rotating device (7 a) for rotating drilling rods(2); a feed device (6) for moving the rock drilling machine (7)longitudinally on the feed beam (5); an alignment device (8) foraligning a new rod (2) on the drilling center (10) with a previous rod(2) passing through the rock drilling machine (7); a threading unit (9)arranged to be movable on the drilling center (10) and configured torotate the new rod and to simultaneously feed the new rod relative tothe previous rod; an apparatus (36) for rod handling, wherein theapparatus (36) is configured to move the rods (2) between at least onepick-up position (14) and the drilling center (10), and wherein theapparatus (36) comprises a rod feeder (13) and a swing device (11); andwherein the rock drilling unit (1) is supported to a base structure (3);characterized in that the apparatus (36) for rod handling is accordingto any one of the preceding claims; and further the swing device (11) issupported to the drilling unit (1) and the rod feeder (13) is supporteddirectly to the base structure (3).
 8. The rock drilling unit accordingto claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus (36) comprises at leastone control unit (CU); and the control unit (CU) is configured tocontrol the rod handling apparatus (36) to move according to its workcycle simultaneously and independently relative to the operation of thethreading unit (9).
 9. The rock drilling unit according to claim 7 or 8,characterized in that the apparatus (36) comprises at least one controlunit (CU); the control unit (CU) is configured to determine position andorientation of the intermediate position (15) and the pick-up position(14), which are both imaginary positions without being mechanicallylimited; and the control unit (CU) is configured to control the rodfeeder (13) to move between the determined intermediate position (15)and pick-up position (14).
 10. The rock drilling unit according any oneof the preceding claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the threading unit(9) is located at an extension of the feed beam (5).
 11. The rockdrilling unit according to any one of the preceding claims 7 to 10,characterized in that the rod handling apparatus (36) is configured toco-operate with at least one rod manipulator for feeding drilling rods(2) automatically from a rod storage (18) to the pick-up position (14)and correspondingly for removing the rods (2) from the pick-up position(14) automatically to the rod storage (18).
 12. A method of handlingdrilling rods in core drilling wherein drill holes are drilled by meansof a rock drilling unit (1) comprising a feed beam (5) and a rockdrilling machine (7), the method comprising: moving the rods (2) betweenat least one pick-up position (14) and an intermediate position (15) bymeans of a rod feeder (13); moving the rods (2) between the intermediateposition (15) and a drilling center (10) defined by the rock drillingmachine (7) by means of a swing device (11); and moving the swing device(11) and the rod feeder (13) along movement paths which are transversalrelative to each other; characterized by using in rod handlingphysically and operationally separate devices as the swing device (11)and the rod feeder (13); moving the swing device (11) and the rod feeder(13) simultaneously and independently along their transversal movementpaths, and moving the swing device (11) in a transversal turningmovement relative to the drilling center (10).
 13. The method accordingto claim 12, characterized by detecting position and orientation of therock drilling unit (1) by means of at least one sensing device; anddetermining position and orientation of the intermediate position (14)on the basis of the detected position and orientation of the rockdrilling unit (1).
 14. The method according to claim 12 or 13,characterized by holding one drill rod (2) at the intermediate position(15) by means of the rod feeder (13) while the swing device (11) ishandling another drill rod (2).